New Years Around The World 2014: When And How Religions Celebrate

Beautiful New Year's Celebrations You've Never Heard Of
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on January 1, 2014. A wave of pyrotechnic displays kicked off new year celebrations in major cities around the world, with Hong Kong welcoming 2014 with a choreographed music and fireworks show. AFP PHOTO / ALEX OGLE (Photo credit should read Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on January 1, 2014. A wave of pyrotechnic displays kicked off new year celebrations in major cities around the world, with Hong Kong welcoming 2014 with a choreographed music and fireworks show. AFP PHOTO / ALEX OGLE (Photo credit should read Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)

As we get ready to ring in 2014, we at HuffPost Religion would like to highlight celebrations from some of the world's religious traditions. While the modern world is beholden to the Gregorian calendar and its Jan. 1 New Year's day, many faiths follow other calendar systems for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Therefore, these celebrations take place at different times throughout the year.

These "new year" holidays are yet another reminder of the common threads shared by many of the world's religions. Despite the differences in the ways that they are observed, these traditions all express an appreciation for the past coupled with a hope for blessings and prosperity in the coming year.

Orthodox New Year

New Year Celebrations

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